Tango

The Tango is one of the most fascinating of all the dances, with a rich and unique history. The first beginnings of the Tango were seen in Argentina by the fusion of several dances including the Spanish habanera, the Uruguayan milonga, and elements of tribal African styles. Originated in the lower-class port economic district of Buenos Aires by the gauchos at the turn of the 20th century, Tango has since been adopted and transformed into one of the most well known dances of the upper-class around the world.

Tango is usually performed by a pair of dancers, and expresses a romantic element in their movements. The Tango was originally a dance performed solely by woman but by the time the dance spread throughout Argentina, it became a dance for couples. The flirtatious dance moves lead to the Tango being considered immoral by many, but still its popularity increased throughout the years.

In the 1900s, the Tango had moved across the ocean to Europe, taking the London and Paris aristocracies by storm. By the winter of 1910, the Tango had again crossed the Atlantic, this time to New York City. The popularity of the Tango in its homeland of Argentina had been an ebb and flood based on the socio-economic issues over the last century. During prosperous time, the Tango had been widely popular; in the recessive times, the dance had lost its popularity.

The Tango is performed to a repetitive style of music, phrased to either 16 or 32 beats of music. The songs act like fine writing with major and minor phrases repeated throughout the story. Additionally, the Tango has a final flourish as the dance completes at the end of each song.

The Tango requires a dancer to make a strong connection with the music, their partners, the audience, and the dance itself. The performer of this dance must project confidence, as the Tango is not a style for the timid.

During the dance, the woman rests in the crook of the man’s arm, with her head held back, and her right hand held low on the man hip. The man, in turn, dances in a curving fashion, while providing a strong lead for his partner. Their bodies move as one when moving from one end of the dance floor to the other.

The Tango continues on today as a romantic dance for couples, although there are many forms of the dance. Styles vary from Argentine, French, International, and Americanized. The Americanized version has been made very popular through its display in various movies, including the 1998 film, Tango. There are countless other films displaying the Tango, such as Take the Lead, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, True Lies, Shall We Dance, and Frida.

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Originator:

Argentinian Gauchos

Region of origin:

Argentina